Shh. Don't tell, but I bought this lovely book for my mom for Christmas. No worries, she doesn't read my blog, so it will still be a surprise. I like it so much I wish it was for me. Don't they say that the best presents are the ones you'd buy for yourself. Or is that just wishful thinking? I love Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington, which we've visited a number of times. When I saw Dining with the Washingtons: Historic Recipes, Entertaining, and Hospitality from Mount Vernon, edited by Stephen A. McLeod, it seemed like the perfect gift. I was afraid it would be more a cookbook than anything else, but it is a lovely coffee table book with loads of photos and a nice sampling of recipes from the period or modern variations thereof.
I've not had much of a chance to really look the book over, but it's one that is nice to dip into, flip through to just look at the photos and reads bits of, or even try some of the recipes. It looks like there is a bit of history about the Washingtons and their home, what Mount Vernon was like in the 1700s and how it was run--all aspects of life there. There are lots of colorful illustrations--both photographs of the interior of the house and other buildings and ephemera from the period. Would you like a little peek inside?
There are approximately 1000 books in George Washington's personal library and seven deal with gardening. I'm surprised there aren't more since Mount Vernon was a working plantation. He may have been President but he was also a farmer.
The recipes look surprisingly good. This is Yorkshire Christmas Pie, an English traditional Christmas food. It was also prepared for the Washingtons.
"Eighteenth-century Virginians delighted in sweets of all kinds, pies being among their favorites." Cherry pie is my favorite, too. The recipes in the book even include instructions from cookbooks of the period as well as notes from the Washington's cooks.
If you're interested in Colonial America this looks like a book to spend a little time perusing. I'm sure I'll be doing so before it needs to be wrapped and set beneath the Christmas tree.
It looks luscious, I'm sure your mum will love it. I'm tempted to get it myself.
Posted by: Katrina | December 02, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Mount Vernon is lovely. I've only been a couple of times myself, but I live not far from it and keep thinking I ought to go again sometime. I did go for their Christmas candlelight tour last year, and they gave us an impressive recipe for a Christmas cake made at Mount Vernon one year. I wish I still had it, but the amounts were amazing--at least a dozen eggs, IIRC. (They also had a scaled-down version, which looked too complicated for me.)
And this definitely looks like a lovely gift!
Posted by: Teresa | December 02, 2011 at 05:41 PM
Looks like a lovely book!
I love buying books as Christmas presents. Well, they do say that you buy the gifts you'd like to receive! ;-)
Posted by: Megan | December 02, 2011 at 07:26 PM
Katrina--I can at least look at it and read a bit before I wrap it and hand it over! :) I should mention that my photos are not very good and it is much nicer than my photos show.
Teresa--I bet it is gorgeous at holiday-time! Wow--that must have been quite a cake--maybe they made it for when they were entertaining? I don't think I'd be that daring enough to try it. I like baking but it has to be simple sorts of things. I'm tempted to write down a few of the recipes in this book and try them--the easier ones! This is definitely a nice gift book (at least I would be pleased to receive a copy...).
Megan--I like buying gifts, too, though I have to try and stay within a budget which is sort of a bummer. I was able to use a coupon on this and got free shipping, so it was a bargain and gorgeous as well. I admit I often pick out gifts based on my own tastes...
Posted by: Danielle | December 02, 2011 at 09:10 PM
It's so dangerous buying books I would like for myself! I so often end up deciding a) I can't part with it or b) I must get a copy for myself. Giving it in the family is a very good idea, because you can always borrow it back! It looks like a lovely book, and I'm sure your mum will be delighted with it.
Posted by: litlove | December 03, 2011 at 08:24 AM
I love books like this. Something to savour over the holidays with lovely photos and interesting tidbits to read...lucky Mum!
Posted by: Darlene | December 03, 2011 at 09:37 AM
I do believe as well that the presents we would like a lot would appeal to others but I've ended up with them on a few occasions.
It looks like a very beautiful book and I like the mix, history and recipes. I have one cook book with old recipes and I had to notice they are much more time consuming to cook. More for festive occasions. But I'm a huge fan of the combination cook book/picture book.
I hope she likes it.
Posted by: Caroline | December 03, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Great gift, I'm sure she'll love it. I bought my mom Agatha Christie at Home for Mother's Day after reading about it on your blog, and she loved it!
And books make superb presents...my husband just asked me what I would like for Christmas, and I told him, "I have a wish list on Amazon..." Not that I need any more books!! (Of course, truthfully, I don't NEED anything. I'm very blessed.)
Posted by: Kathy Johnson | December 03, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Oh, I want it, I want it! I love Mt. Vernon and anything historical. What a truly lovely gift for your mom. I've been working on my Amazon wish list, which gives my family some ideas, and will see if it can be had there.
Anyone who gives me a book for a gift if forever in my heart, especially these types of books.
The dozen eggs for a cake would not have been unusual in Washington's time as they would have had hens laying (though, not any lords-a-leaping, sorry, couldn't stop those words from coming out).
I made Yorkshire pudding one year. It was a, er, memorable attempt. tee hee
Posted by: Penny | December 03, 2011 at 11:14 AM
I love culinary history type books so this looks like it would be fascinating to peruse. I rarely cook anything from them, but I like to imagine myself cooking from them someday. A wonderful gift!
Posted by: Anbolyn | December 03, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Litlove--So you have that trouble too? I am very bad about buying gifts for other people that I know I like myself (or want to read myself!). I'm hoping I can at least skim it before Christmas and perhaps write down a recipe or two. It'll be one that will be hard to wrap and give away.
Darlene--It was a real find and I know she enjoys this sort of book and reading about this period so I was very pleased to find it. I also love books like this that you can read and look at over and over again.
Caroline--It really is a nice mix--not too much of one thing and lots of lovely illustrations for just looking. Even reading the bits about the recipes is interesting. I love cookbooks and own loads of them though to be honest I am not much of a cooking fan. It is fun just reading them and you can tell a lot about a period by the food they ate and how they prepared it!
Kathy--I loved that Agatha Christie book--another I wouldn't mind owning! I'm so glad your mom liked it, too. I'm with you--I really don't need anything--I am very lucky with everything I have and like to keep life simple. Though books (and dark chocolate...) are always appreciated! :)
Penny--It is worth owning I think. I bought my copy at B&N as I had a coupon and they were offering free shipping (very much a bargain) though I bet Amazon will also have it discounted. I love historical homes, too, and this is one I have visited and feel like I sort of know, so it makes it even nicer. I rarely get books for gifts, though I do think I might just get a gift card or two to bookstores this year. I'm most curious to see the recipes that are authentic--I love reading about how people used to cook--it's very fascinating. And I think the Washingtons did do a lot of entertaining, so I bet they made really big servings of their dishes. I don't think I'm a good enough cook to attempt Yorkshire pudding--maybe someday I'll get to visit Britain again and can try the real thing! :)
Anbolyn--I like reading books about cooking as well--thouhg like you I don't use my own cookbooks very much. I wouldn't mind trying one or two of the recipes in this book--there was a tasty-looking recipes for hotcakes as a matter of fact! I do hope she likes it!
Posted by: Danielle | December 03, 2011 at 09:57 PM
What a lovely gift! And oh that cherry pie looks yummy!
Posted by: Stefanie | December 05, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Stefanie--It is well worth the money (though I must admit I got a great deal on this one). And yes, doesn't the pie look yummy? Cherry is my favorite (leave it to me to pick a photo of pie to share!:) ).
Posted by: Danielle | December 05, 2011 at 09:57 PM